Police Sunday were hunting for the man they say shot to death the mother of his three young children outside the family's Long Beach mobile home, then fled on foot.
The suspect, Marcos Gustavo Zermeno, 24, is a gang member with tattoos that include one of the name of the girlfriend he is accused of slaying in a parked car Saturday night.
Eleonora Rivera Hidalgo, 22, was found wounded in the car by relatives about 10:30 p.m. Saturday at a mobile home park in the 6400 block of Atlantic Avenue, after they heard a gunshot, police said. Witnesses tried to save her before Long Beach Fire Department paramedics took her to a hospital, where she died moments after arriving.
"The preliminary investigation revealed that prior to the shooting, the victim and the suspect were arguing inside the vehicle that was parked outside their home," states a police department press release sent by spokeswoman Nancy Pratt. "When a gunshot was heard, witnesses went outside to check on the couple and found the injured victim in the vehicle. As the suspect fled, he attempted to steal an unoccupied vehicle and was last seen jumping over a fence in the complex before disappearing from the area and remains outstanding."
Further, it goes on: The victim and suspect lived together at the location and shared three children, ages seven, six, and two, who are now in the care of family. The suspect is identified as male, Hispanic, 5’6” tall and 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. "Suspect Zermeno is a documented gang member and has a tattoo on his lower right neck that reads 'Eleonora,' a collage of skulls on his right shoulder, and 'Compton' on his right forearm. Detectives believe there is a possibility he may try to flee to Mexico."
The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who may have information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call the Long Beach Police Communications Center at (562) 435-6711. For an immediate police response call 9-1-1. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com. Anyone with information relating to the investigation should contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Mark McGuire and Greg Krabbe at (562) 570-7244.
